Police patrols stepped up in Barnet to reassure Jewish community

Police patrols have been stepped up in Hendon and Golders Green to reassure the local Jewish community.

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers revealed the move, which follows the upping of the UK terror threat level. She added that there was no specific threat to any community in the borough.

The cabinet minister was speaking after attending a crime prevention and Community Awareness Day at High Barnet Police Station at the weekend, held to increase awareness of personal safety and home security.

Villiers said: “This was a successful event which I am sure will have given many of my constituents a useful opportunity to obtain the best advice on anti-crime measures and to hear about the success of local police in cutting crime in Barnet. I have also had a number of constituents raise concerns with me over the weekend about the security situation following last week’s increase in the level of threat from international terrorism.

“I therefore welcome the email I received from Barnet police on Friday saying that patrols were being stepped up in various parts of Barnet to provide reassurance to the Jewish community. The email stated that there was no specific threat to any community in Barnet, but that the police were responding to the concern the community would be feeling about the increased general threat level and wished to provide comfort and reassurance.”

She added: “I would urge all my constituents to be vigilant and to report anything suspicious to the police.”

“In recent days I have highlighted the concerns of my constituents regarding the recent increase in anti-Semitic incidents and have urged the police to do all they can to try to prevent this kind of unacceptable behaviour.”

It comes amid a 500 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents across the country.

A Community Security Trust spokesman said: “CST welcomes this decision and hopes that it will help provide reassurance to the local Jewish community. We also thank Theresa Villiers MP for the strong backing that she has given to us all on this issue.”